Categories of Law

Welfare benefitsThis category covers help with entitlements to all kinds of welfare benefits. For example, you may need advice on housing benefit, war pensions or state pensions. You may need to know what happens at a welfare benefit review meeting.

Actions against the policeThis category covers legal help with claims against the police. For example, you may need advice on an action against the police for assault, entering your home, false imprisonment, wrongful arrest, interference with your property, malicious prosecution or other abuses of police authority.

Clinical negligenceThis category covers help with claims for damages against all types of public and private medical practitioner. This includes treatment from doctors, nurses and dentists.

Community careThis category covers legal help over services in the community provided by a social services department or health care authority. For example, you may need help in making a claim about the failure to provide services or facilities to the sick, elderly or those with disabilities.

Consumer and general contractThis category covers help over all kinds of contracts made by consumers. For example, you may need advice about making a claim when a product does not do what the seller or maker claimed for it. You may need a company to fulfil a contract you signed or to put right work that is not up to standard.

CrimeThis category covers legal help on everything to do with criminal proceedings. For example, it includes being investigated, prosecuted and sentenced. You may need advice on length of prison sentence, detention or parole. This category also covers help over the way prisoners are treated.

Debt This category covers help in relation to money you owe. For example, you may need advice because you are bankrupt or insolvent. You may want to know about your legal position if you are behind with your mortgage, tax or investment payments.

EducationThis category covers legal help on problems to do with the education service, including failing to provide education. For example, you may want to know about making a legal case for education funding or about education for special needs.

EmploymentThis category covers help on anything to do with what happens at work. For example, you may feel you have been sacked unfairly. You may need advice on aspects of your employment contract or whether you have a case for racial or sexual discrimination. You may want to know whether a strike is legal or how you stand on data protection and employee confidentiality.

FamilyThis category covers legal help on all family issues. For example, you may want advice on what to do if you want your children to live with you following a divorce and whether the other party should have contact with them. You can get help on what to do about domestic violence, or if your child is being taken into care or being considered for adoption.

HousingThis category covers help on legal problems to do with your home. For example, you can get advice if you fall into arrears with your rent or mortgage, need to get improvements or repairs done, or are being evicted or suffering from noise or nuisance. This includes the rights of leaseholders.

Immigration and nationalityThis category covers legal help on anything to do with immigration into the UK. For example, you may have questions relating to your nationality or right to stay in this country. You may need to know about asylum, the information you require to enter the UK and why you may be deported.

Mental healthThis category covers help in all matters where mental health is the main issue and you or a dependant want services to be provided or you are facing detention in an institution. You can get help on anything to do with the Mental Health Act 1983.

Personal injury This category covers help with claims for damages for injury caused by another person or organisation. For example, you may need advice on claiming following a traffic accident. You may want to know how you stand on the issue of an accident at work, or a disease you caught there.

Public lawThis category covers legal help on civil liberties or human rights. For example, you may want to know how the Human Rights Act 1998 will affect your situation. You can get advice on data protection, freedom of information issues and how to challenge the decisions of public bodies.